Chapter 7 Gabriel

• Gabriel (POV)
• I opened my eyes and was lying naked on my bed. I can remember the feel of her soft body against mine. The sweet smell of her and her taste like it was on my tongue. I took a deep breath, and her smell almost seems to be lingering in the air. But how when it was only a dream? I can still taste her on my lips and my mouth. I have never had a dream so vivid and feel so real like that before. After we made love we gazed deeply into each other’s eyes, while we held each other. And for a split second, I thought I saw fear before she closed her eyes tight. Like shutting out what she saw. It was then I woke up. What had just happened? Why does it feel as if my body feels satisfied? I looked over at my clock and noticed it said 4:30 AM so I decided to get up and shower. After I dressed in my suit and was ready to head out to my office, I call for my driver to come and pick me up.
• By the time I get to the office, I sat down and pondered the dream. Was it a dragon thing reassuring me that she truly is my mate? And what was it she saw when she looked into my eyes before she disappeared? Why did it frighten her? I look at my watch and noticed she should be arriving to work in about an hour. I look forward to seeing her but at the same time after that dream. How will I react to seeing her?
• A half-hour later she walks in early carrying my Danish and coffee, setting it down on my desk. She was refusing to look at me and that is not like her. Yet I had to ask, “How did you get here this morning? My driver was scheduled to pick you up in another half hour?”
• “I know, I took a cab this morning. I woke early and couldn’t go back to sleep and decided to just come in early.” She glanced at me for the first time this morning and I saw her cheeks blush a crimson color. Then she looked away.
• Of all mornings she has decided to become shy. It makes me wonder if she experienced the same dream. If so, what could it mean? There is only one place I know of where I can get the answers. The ship that brought my four brothers and me. I will need to research the database and find the answers to mating between dragons. Our parents before they died were vague about things. But the ship has everything on it about our world of Drakkon and our mating customs.
• One thing though I will have to wait when I know Alana is safe. I may go tonight as she sleeps, I will fly to where we hid the ship and find out.
• I nod at her, “I would have felt better if you would have waited for my driver. Please do not take any more chances?”
• She nodded, “Okay. I promise.”
• “Thank you, Alana.” She turns and leaves, closing the door behind her.
• Hours later I had an idea. I called Alana’s desk phone. “Yes, Mr. I mean Gabe?”
• “Alana, we need to talk. I would like it if you would have lunch with me.”
• Silence.
• “Alana?”
• “Okay. I mean of course.”
• I let out the breath I was holding. “Thank you. Be ready in an hour.”
• “Yes, sir. I mean, Gabe.”
• An hour later I shut off my computer and stood up putting my dress jacket over my white crisp shirt. And opened the door. After closing it I turned to look at Alana. “Are you ready?”
• She opened a desk drawer took out her purse and stood. “Yes, I am ready.”
• We rode the elevator down and stepped into the cab I hailed and after I gave the driver the address of our destination, I sat back and looked over at Alana. She was looking down at her clasped hands on her lap. All-day she avoided eye contact with me which furthers my suspicions. Once at the restaurant, we were shown to a private VIP room for privacy, and I held the chair out for Alana. She stood there looking around and hesitated. She glanced at me, and I saw a little fear in her eyes.
• “It’s alright Alana. The private room is so we can talk. Nothing more.” I tried to reassure her with a smile, and she finally walked over and sat in the chair I held out for her.
• We ordered our food and drinks and waited to be served and left alone before she finally spoke. “What did you need to speak to me about?”
• I have been contemplating how to approach what needed to be said and I figured the best way is, to be honest with her and watch her reaction.
• After our food was served, I cleared my throat and began. “Something happened last night that needs to be addressed.” As I watched her, her hand began to shake as she held a fork and was about to take a bite of her food. She dropped the fork and the bite of food fell to her lap. She grabbed a napkin and began to clean the mess.
• “Excuse me? I have no idea what you are talking about?” She was so focused she didn’t even look up at me.
• “What happened last night was that I had a very vivid dream about us,” I said, testing the waters yet again to see her reaction.
• With a trembling hand, she reached for the goblet that held her iced tea and swallowed a large gulp. “About us?” She whispered.
• “Alana, by your reaction, I believe you know exactly what I am talking about. The question is. How? How is this possible? I for one have not had anything like that happen to me before. I need your thoughts.”
• She cleared her throat and placed both hands on her lap. “What happened in your dream?”
• I smiled, “We made love. You appeared suddenly in my room, and we made love.”
• She gasped then the closing of her eyes told me she had the same dream. Finally, she slowly nodded her head, “Yes, I dreamed that too. Never in my life have I ever had such a realistic dream to where I wake up aching yet satisfied.” She finally for the first time looked up at me as her cheeks turned that scarlet color again.
• I was nodding my agreement. “That is how it was with me this morning.”
• “And this is what you wanted to talk to me about? Our dreams?”
• “Alana, I know you feel the chemistry between us, and that dream is telling us something.”
• She nodded before she spoke, “In my dream, you kept calling me your fated mate? I have no idea what that means. Or why I dreamt of you saying it. And then…” She paused, taking a deep breath, “Your eyes as we held each other. They were not human.”
• “What do you mean?”
• “They turned a very deep blue and became like a snake or a lizard…you know a reptilian.”
• So that is why the fear before she vanished. I know I cannot tell her the truth, at least not yet. So instead, I said, “That part could have been from your mind. Maybe like a…self-defense, you know against your having feelings for me. After all, you wanted to leave yesterday.”
• She looked down at her plate and shook her head. “I don’t know, I mean maybe. But how could we have had the same experience?” As she said it her cheeks turned a deeper crimson.
• “That I cannot explain. But it did happen. We both experienced it. And to be honest,” I gazed deep into her eyes as she looked up at me, “It was more incredible than I imagined.”
• She opened her mouth to speak then closed it taking a deep breath, “I am sorry, I can’t do this.” She stood to leave and before she could I caught her arm.
• “Alana, I may not know the reason for the experience we both shared, but I do know one thing. It bonded us together.” I took my nail and softly ran it down my left arm and she gasped and rubbed her left arm in the same place I scratched mine.
• She looked up at me, mouth open in shock. “This is not normal.” She whispered.
• “Where I come from it is.”
• “What do you mean?”
• “It’s not for you to know yet.” I looked her in the eyes as I tried to explain. “I know this is confusing to you, Alana, please trust me.”
• “Why, me? I mean, why are we bonded? Is this permanent?” Her voice was climbing up an octave higher.
• I exhaled a deep breath, “I am afraid so. It is for life.”
• “No. No, no.” She shook her head, backing away. “NO.” She screamed as she turned and ran out in a panic.